Cough Cures

Cough Catalogue

There are five main types of cough:

1. Loose or productive cough: You can hear mucus in Baby’s airways and Baby coughs or vomits up mucus.

2. Dry or non-productive cough: Baby coughs up very little or no mucus and you can’t hear mucus in the airways, although he may sound very nasal.

3. Tight cough: A tight cough sounds painful, and is often accompanied by dry retching, and extreme tiredness. The child’s chest pulls inwards during a coughing episode.

4. Irritation cough: This cough is mostly caused by a postnasal drip, and originates from a constant clearing of the throat.

5. Spasmodic cough: This cough comes in spasms, and then is absent for some time. There could be a chest infection or lower airway condition, and coughing seems painful.

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Causes Of Cough

A cough is caused either by an irritation of the airways, or in an attempt to get something out of the throat or chest. Think about these links:

• Excess mucus: You can help prevent this by avoiding dietary triggers of mucus, such as dairy and grain products and foods with preservatives, colourants and flavour enhancers.

• Allergies

• Smoking: Babies born to parents who smoke will be far more prone to allergies and respiratory problems. Smoking outside the house helps, but is not a cure.

• Respiratory infections and diseases: Conditions like bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, flu, asthma and whooping cough all require specific treatment.

• Climate: Dry, cold seasons make some babies more prone, whereas a humid climate affects others.

• Daycare: Young children and babies in crèches are more prone to falling ill.

Home Treatment Of Cough

If your child has a cough, prop him up to ease breathing and make sure the room is well ventilated. Give him plenty of cuddles, and try these tips:

• Homeopathic remedies for mucus are helpful for all types of cough.

• To open up the airways, run a humidifier with a few drops of eucalyptus oil at night, or add a few drops of eucalyptus oil under the hot water tap when running baby’s bath.

• Try to avoid allergic triggers.

• Add a capful to Friar’s balsam to a basin of boiling water, drape a towel over your child’s head and encourage him to breathe these vapours in, but to take care not to burn.

• Apply vaporising gel to Baby’s chest and throat, or onto a vest if Baby’s skin reacts with a rash, to help relieve a tight cough at night.